Year I was made

[philthephlier]

I am a S&W K Frame Combat Masterpiece with serial # K 141XXX. Anybody tell me what year S&W made me?

[bedbugbilly]

Not much help but my Combat Masterpiece has the serial number K 248XXX. When I posted on the S & W Forum shortly after I got it, I was told mine was probably shipped in early 1955. At the same time I bought my CM, I also bought a 5" M & P 38 with a serial number that put it in my year of birth - 1952.

You can go over on the S & W Forum and make a post on it and someone should be able to give you a ballpark year of when it was shipped.

TheCM is one of my favorites and it sometimes gets carried for CCW as well. Nothing like a nice K frame!

Good luck! I hope you post your findings.

[tazman]

As near as I can find out, it was made in 1952.

[philthephlier]

A friend gave me the gun after putting about a box and a half of +P ammo through it and the cylinder locked up. I was able to open the cylinder and discovered the forcing cone was split in 2 places. The split section was forced down into the cylinder preventing it from turning. I was barely able to open it. I drove the pin out and and filed the cone down enough to remove the barrel. I had the cracks expertly welded and I recut the chamfer with Brownell's revolver chamfering tools and everything looks good after reinstalling the barrel and pin. Will test it tomorrow and will post results.

[tazman]

Best of luck with that.
I have seen that happen before. Usually on a model 19 where the barrel is thin on the bottom side.

[rintinglen]

I think Tazman hits a home run on the date, According to the [I]Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson, [I] that serial number places it right about in the middle of the 1952 production.

[Texas by God]

If I can pile on, how about .38 Combat Masterpiece 3K 24xxx?
I think rebarreling that 19 would be a better fix IMO.
Best, Thomas.

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[tazman]

If I can pile on, how about .38 Combat Masterpiece 3K 24xxx?
I think rebarreling that 19 would be a better fix IMO.
Best, Thomas.

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That one is a 1971 manufacture date.

[Texas by God]

Thank you sir!

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[philthephlier]

Rebarreling could be done but the gun was expertly engraved from stem to stern so that wasn't gonna work. As it turned out the trip to the range yielded no negatives with 18 rounds in 1-1/4" at 50 feet. I am happy and I think my amigo will be delighted. I'll post a pic of the target later. Thanks to all who looked up the year of manufacture for us.

[tazman]

Rebarreling could be done but the gun was expertly engraved from stem to stern so that wasn't gonna work. As it turned out the trip to the range yielded no negatives with 18 rounds in 1-1/4" at 50 feet. I am happy and I think my amigo will be delighted. I'll post a pic of the target later. Thanks to all who looked up the year of manufacture for us.

You are welcome.
I am glad that welding job worked out for you. I will keep that in mind in case I run across another one like that.

[rking22]

Does your friend now have enough" education" to not just go do it again? Personally think he's to mentally challenged to be trusted with a fine revolver, sheesh !

[philthephlier]

Here are 3 photos of the barrel out of the gun with welding completed. I carefully filed the welds until I could thread the barrel back into the frame with a S&W Frame wrench that I was able to borrow to remove and reinstall it. Then a bit more filing until the cylinder could close and then recut the forcing cone with Brownell's 11 degree chamfer cutter. Nice to be able to save it.

[philthephlier]

for some reason only 2 of the 3 pics got loaded.

[tazman]

Nice job and a great looking target. Job well done.

[Texas by God]

Your friend is lucky to know you for sure. Great job.

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[waco]

My S&W K38 Target Masterpiece 14-2 is a 1968 production if I'm not mistaken.